Derby contenders wrap up final prep work

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The heavy lifting is now over for the 22 horses still under consideration for this year’s Kentucky Derby, with the final major works turned in at both Churchill Downs and in South Florida on Monday morning.

At Churchill Downs, the track remained on the quick side and the weather on the brisk side from the time training began at 5:15 a.m. right up until closing time nearly five hours later. However, the forecast calls for a warming trend and more South Florida-like conditions here over the next several days, with temperatures expected to climb as high as the low 80s through Thursday.

The lone Derby worker on site was Long Range Toddy, upset winner of the Grade 2 Rebel but sixth behind Omaha Beach and Improbable over a sloppy track in the Arkansas Derby. Long Range Toddy was expected to turn in one of those patented Steve Asmussen maintenance half-miles in the 49- to 50-second range just five days out from the race. Instead, he zipped along over the rapid surface to complete four furlongs in 24.13 and 48.12 seconds while well within himself throughout before continuing out a strong five furlongs off the rail in 1:01.58. He made a very positive impression exiting a more typical breeze here the previous week.

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Trainer Jason Servis has patented a work style of his own, one-mile open gallops culminating with a quick burst of speed during the latter stages. Florida Derby winner Maximum Security followed that script perfectly at the Palm Meadows training center on Monday, completing a mile from the half-mile pole in 1:58.96 per track clocker Bryan Walls, and easing up after a full 1 1/8 miles in 2:12.08. The undefeated Maximum Security was officially credited with a half-mile work for covering the final four furlongs in 53.80 seconds. The third of those four eighth-mile splits went in a nifty 11.95 seconds when he was roused at the end.

This was the third consecutive one-mile “work” for Maximum Security since his easy wire-to-wire tally in the Florida Derby, prompting Servis to say, “If he doesn’t win the Kentucky Derby, it won’t be because he’s not fit enough.”

At Gulfstream Park West, trainer Gustavo Delgado borrowed a page from the Servis training manual, sending Florida Derby runner-up Bodexpress 1 1/2 miles with the final five-eighths in 1:03 on Monday, according to his son Gustavo Jr. Bodexpress, who still needs one defection to draw into the Derby lineup, will board the same Louisville-bound flight as Maximum Security, Vekoma, Cutting Humor and Spinoff on Tuesday. Delgado said Bodexpress would remain at Churchill Downs and train up to the Preakness if he is unable to compete in the Derby.

Likely Derby favorite Omaha Beach returned to the track for the first time since his impressive five-furlong work on Saturday looking none the worse for wear. In fact, he clearly was eager to do a lot more than allowed while equipped in draw reins for the first time in nearly a week.

Game Winner was the first of the Derby hopefuls to train on Monday, shortly after dawn, and surprisingly merely jogged once around the course for a second consecutive morning, looking loaded for bear and eager to do much more. His stablemate Roadster, on the other hand, was allowed to stretch his legs and gallop during the special Oaks-Derby training session at 7:30.

Oaks works

After having a scheduled work postponed Saturday and not going to the track at all on Sunday, according to trainer Ken McPeek’s assistant trainer, Restless Rider got in her final breeze for the Oaks shortly after 7:30, going four furlongs in 49.62 seconds. The Ashland runner-up, who had the misfortune to draw the outside post 14 a few hours later for the Oaks, got very anxious and rank heading to the pole, posted a quick 23.72 opening split, and struggled a bit to finish and gallop out five-eighths in 1:03.22.

Among the Oaks contenders who made a very nice impression prior to the draw were Liora, who was full of energy during the special training session at 7:30, and Chocolate Kisses, who did not come out until 9:30 and was full of run over the nearly deserted track. Chocolate Kisses was so sharp she completed four furlongs from the half-mile pole to the wire in 57 and change while kept out near the center of the strip.